Tech – Lifestyle – Fashion
When you think of the brand, Bose, the first thing that normally springs to mind is speakers, definitely not Audio Augmented Reality (AR) or sunglasses but that is about to change. Last week during South By Southwest (SXSW) Bose announced the world’s first audio augmented reality platform, Bose AR. Also at SXSW the #BoseFrames pop-up came to Austin to debut sunglasses collection with built-in Bose speakers for an immersive audio experience.
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Yesterday, PolarPro, developer of products inspired by adventure, kicked off its latest Kickstarter campaign for the WAVe, a battery-integrated carrying case for wireless headphones. Safeguarded in the WAVe’s Napa leather clad protective shell, most wireless headphone models can be recharged up to 10 times off the integrated battery. This is genius especially for me for two reasons. First, I use my earbuds or headphones at least 3 hours a day if not more and I hate when I get a low battery because the sound quality goes down the tubes. Second, it will make me actually put the headphones back in their case which I am horrible about doing. Normally I would just throw the headphones in my purse exposed to the elements and the black whole of my purse. Continue Reading →
Though all the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix racing fun was at the Circuit of the Americas, they also had several other events in downtown Austin, Texas as part of the F1 weekend. I attended 2 of the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix events over the weekend, the Bose virtual “F1 Garage Experience” and Fan Fest.
The first event I attended was the Bose virtual “F1 Garage Experience” in downtown Austin, Texas. The experience starts with putting on the new Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones and going into a dark room which was the size of a one car garage. Once it starts you are transported into the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One™ Team Garage. Before they start virtually working on the car to be raced the walls and floor light up with a timer, different 3D patterns of the race tracks and other images, and foot prints on the floor walking around the car that you are supposed to step on.
While wearing the new Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones you can listen in on mechanics talking and also when they begin working on the car. Soon after hearing the mechanics chatting the floor lights with an outline of a race car and you can hear them beginning to work on the car. At the end the car is ready to hit the tracks and the experience was over. Before I left I also took a few pictures of items on display and this car. All in all is was an awesome experience and I am now a HUGE fan of the Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones.
The following day I went to F1’s Fan Fest in downtown Austin where they closed off 3 blocks on the infamous 6th street for F1 fanatical who aren’t at the races. Fan Fest had live music, car displays, photos, exhibits and the activation booth from Facebook plus Bud Light, Topo Chico, Perky Jerky, and Advance Auto Parts booths.
Besides taking pictures and listening to live bands performing on different roof tops of bars I also checked out Facebook‘s VR Glass Room. I have tried the Oculus Rift many times for VR gaming demos but not for a VR experience of being in another country or in outer space. While waiting in a short line I was asked to take a picture wearing the Facebook branded Gear VR headset. I am convinced no one can look good wearing those. Even the most beautiful woman in the world would look silly wearing a VR headset.
While in line I started talking to the Facebook’s staff members to get the skinny before going in. The Facebook staff informed me the demo was using Gear VR hardware powered by a smartphone for the visuals and audio. That perked my curiosity and made me excited to have this new experience! When I entered the Facebook VR Glass Room I was quickly outfitted with a pair of Facebook’s implementation of Gear VR goggles and geared up for my 2 minute demo. Once it started, I started having the VR experience of being in different lands and outer space. It was amazing since everywhere you would turn (up, down, left right and behind you) it was as if you were really there.
One of the Asian countries featured in the experience had you on boat (or canoe) and when you would turn behind you there is a person in the boat with you that seemed very real, somewhat spooked me out a tad. I do have to say that since I’ve experienced gaming demos on the higher-end Oculus Rift, the Gear VR’s graphics were not as crisp as I would prefer or have experienced in the past. Regardless the Facebook VR experience was amazing and got me excited to see what the future will hold for VR and Oculus.
I hope all that attended Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix had an amazing time in my hometown Austin, Texas and enjoyed our fabulous BBQ plus all the live music. As this was my first time covering the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix and events I had a blast! Till next year Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix fans!
Today is day 1 of the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix that is held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The gates at the Circuit of the Americas will open each day at 7am. The 3-day F1 event will include performances by Taylor Swift and Usher with the Roots on the Super Stage.
On Friday the events at Circuit of the Americas will end by 6:40pm. On Saturday the Taylor Swift concert starts at 7pm and on Sunday the Usher with the Roots concert starts at 6.00. The concerts will be general admission and all holders of a Saturday ticket for USGP weekend (including the 3-Day GA wristband) will have access to the Taylor Swift concert.
For the schedule of F1 events at Circuit of the Americas click here and to buy a tickets plus directions click here.
If you are not going to the Formula 1 Grand Prix races there are still some events in Austin that are Formula 1 themed. Below are some events that are celebrating the Formula 1 races this weekend.
Time: 10:00pm – 4am
Where: 213 West 5th St, Austin, TX View Map
FRIDAY NIGHTS MUSIC:
SATURDAY NIGHTS MUSIC:
When: 10/17/ 2016 – 10/23/ 2016
Time:
Where: 323 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701
Where: 6th Street between San Jacinto Blvd and Neches Street
FRIDAY’S SHOWS
SATURDAY SHOWS
I have already started celebrating Formula 1 weekend since Thursday where I attended the Chandon and McLaren Enjoy the SPARK with Jenson Button.
The drink of the night was created by Jenson Button himself called SPARK by Jenson drink that is made with Chandon’s Brut. It was delicious! I included the recipe in my post before the event but below is the recipe just in case you didn’t get a chance to read the post.
The SPARK by Jenson
Ingredients:
Directions: In a Burgundy glass filled with ice, pour the gin, add lime juice and sugar. Mix lightly and fill with Chandon’s Brut. Twist the lemon peel and flame it over the glass using a blowtorch.
During the event Jenson Button did an on stage interview and towards the end there was some Q & A plus you get to get a picture with Jenson Button himself. Here is a video after asked how he got started racing.
Here is another video ask Jenson Button what’s next after he retires from racing. He mentioned he was really into cycling and marathons; maybe that will be what’s next for him. Here is a video with him candidly answering the question.
The Formula 1 fun has just started and today I plan to attend the Bose “F1 Garage Experience” event and Fan Fest, say hi if you see me!
Tonight I will be attending the Chandon and McLaren’s Enjoy the SPARK with Jenson Button event in Austin, Texas as we gear up for the 3- Day Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix. The event is in celebration of the newly formed partnership between Chandon and McLaren.
For the celebration Chandon has created two original SPARK cocktails inspired by drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso. An original and elegant drink, the SPARK by Jenson is the newest twist to the classic English cocktail Gin & Tonic. Inspired by his Spanish Origins, the SPARK by Fernando blends spice taste profiles featuring pepper paired with grapefruit flavors. Below are the recipes and directions for The SPARK by Jenson and The SPARK by Fernando.
The SPARK by Jenson Ingredients:
Directions: In a Burgundy glass filled with ice, pour the gin, add lime juice and sugar. Mix lightly and fill with Chandon Brut. Twist the lemon peel and flame it over the glass using a blowtorch.
The SPARK by Fernando Ingredients:
Directions: Chill the pink pepper syrup and the grapefruit juice in the mixing glass. Strain the mixture to a flute glass and then add Chandon Brut. Garnish with chili pepper.
Chandon is one of my favorite wineries in Napa Valley to visit when I lived in the Bay Area. I love their wine so much I probably went there more than twice a year when I lived near there. I’m excited to try the cocktails inspired by drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso attend the Q&A panel and also the meet and greet portion of the event.
This should be tons of fun or DANGEROUS since Chandon’s sparkiling and still wines are some of my favorites. I will be tweeting @nrpena, @cutegeek, and @hitechchic using #EnjoytheSpark plus post video’s I can catch on my youtube.
I will also be attending today or in the next few days the Bose “F1 Garage Experience” in Austin per my previous post and will post on the above channels as well.
My first Formula 1 experience is starting off awesome (even though I’m not going to any of the races as of yet). Stay tuned for my recaps of both!
This year is the first time I have been asked or invited to cover various F1 U.S. Grand Prix events around Austin. October 17th through the 23rd, Bose will have a multi-sensorial “F1 Garage Experience” that gets visitors closer to the sport, the team and the drivers. Bose will have a virtual garage in downtown Austin where visitors will don a pair of the new Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones and be transported into the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One™ Team Garage to experience the sounds of racing.
Bose invites the general public and attendees of the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin to experience the sounds for themselves. There is no cost for admission and below is the event information.
WHERE: 323 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701
WHEN:
· Monday October 17 through Friday 21st of October from 11AM to 5:30PM
· Saturday, October 22, from 10AM to 8PM
· Sunday, October 23, from 10AM to 6PM
I will be attending various F1 events during the week and hope to see my fellow geeks there! To follow where I am all week for F1 events follow me @hitechchic, @cutegeek and @nrpena.